The summit featured a prominent member of former President Bill Clinton's cabinet as the keynote speaker.

The summit featured a prominent member of former President Bill Clinton's cabinet as the keynote speaker.

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Updated: 10:24 PM CDT May 16, 2015

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WEBVTT THIS ANTI-HILLARY MESSAGE. LAURA: MEANWHILE, A MOSTLY DEMOCRATIC CROWD OF HUNDREDS MET IN AMES TO DISCUSS AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS. THE WORKING FAMILIES SUMMIT IN AMES FEATURED A PROMINENT MEMBER OF BILL CLINTON'S CABINET AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER. KCCI'S JASON RANTALA HAS A RECAP. ROBERT REICH: WHENEVER I'M IN A ROOM WHERE PEOPLE NOD IN THE AGREEMENT, I SAY I'M NOT IN THE RIGHT ROOM. I OUGHT TO BE AT THE REPUBLICAN DINNER TONIGHT, YOU KNOW. [LAUGHTER] JASON: THE LINCOLN DINNER NOT FAR OFF THE MINDS OF THE HUNDREDS AT THE WORKING FAMILIES SUMMIT, THE RALLYING EVENT PUT ON BY THE IOWA FEDERATION OF LABOR. [APPLAUSE] KEYNOTE SPEAKER ROBERT REICH, SECRETARY OF LABOR UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, SAYS IT'S TIME TO REBUILD THE MIDDLE CLASS. REICH: IF WE WORKED FOR PENNIES, WE'D HAVE JOBS COMING OUT OF OUR EARS. YOU KNOW SLAVERY WAS A FULL-EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM. JASON: PROGRESSIVES LIKE REICH SAY A GOOD MIDDLE CLASS MEANS A GOOD ECONOMY, ARGUING THAT MONEY ISN'T GETTING WHERE IT'S MOST NEEDED -- THINGS LIKE EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND LABOR UNIONS. REICH: THIS IS THE FIRST RECOVERY IN HISTORY IN WHICH ALMOST ALL THE ECONOMIC GAINS HAVE GONE TO THE VERY TOP, TO THE RICHEST 1%, 5%. JACK HATCH: THEY'RE NOT TACKLING STUDENT DEBT. THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT GO TO THE RECREATIONAL AREAS AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR PEOPLE. THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HEALTHCARE. JASON: BUT REICH SAYS REPUBLICANS AREN'T NECESSARILY SO-CALLED PROGRESSIVES ARE, THOSE WHO WANT TO KEEP ALL THE MONEY FOR BIG CORPORATIONS. REICH: ANYBODY WHO WORKS

Hundreds turn out for Working Families Summit

The summit featured a prominent member of former President Bill Clinton's cabinet as the keynote speaker.